Введение
Роман Фримена Уиллса Крофтса "12:30 из Кройдона" (название в США: "Умышленное и предумышленное") – детективный роман Фримена Уиллса Крофтса, впервые опубликованный в 1934 году. В нем рассказывается об убийстве, совершенном во время полета над Ла-Маншем. Личность убийцы раскрывается довольно рано в книге (что делает ее одним из первых примеров инвертированного детектива, или "как это было сделано"), и читатель может наблюдать за подготовкой к преступлению и попытками убийцы замести следы. Финальные главы романа происходят в зале суда и во время частного мероприятия в отеле, где перед небольшой группой полицейских детективов, юристов и адвокатов дается краткий обзор всего дела.
The 12.30 from Croydon (U. S. title: Wilful and Premeditated) is a detective novel by Freeman Wills Crofts first published in 1934. It is about a murder which is committed during a flight over the English Channel. The identity of the killer is revealed quite early in the book (making it an early example of the inverted detective story or "howcatchem"), and the reader can watch the preparations for the crime and how the murderer tries to cover up his tracks. The final chapters of the novel are set in a courtroom and during a private function at a hotel, where a résumé of the whole case is given in front of a small group of police detectives, solicitors, and barristers.
Краткое содержание сюжета
Действие романа разворачивается в Йоркшире и Лондоне в 1933 году. «12:30 из Кройдона» рассказывает о 35-летнем Чарльзе Суинберне, владельце фабрики в Колд-Пикерби, Йоркшир, где производят электродвигатели. Суинберн унаследовал предприятие от отца и дяди. Отец умер много лет назад, а его дядя Эндрю Кроутер ведет жизнь на пенсии в том же городе. В 65 лет его здоровье начало ухудшаться, особенно его мучают расстройства пищеварения. Бизнес Суинберна, как и многие другие компании, пострадал от Великой депрессии. Когда он просит дядю о займе, чтобы избежать банкротства, он с ужасом обнаруживает, что старик, очевидно, утратил понимание тенденций в мировой экономике и не желает предоставить ему существенную сумму для преодоления финансовых трудностей. Суинберн знает, что он и его кузина Элси унаследуют по половине состояния Кроутера, и не видит причин, почему бы ему не получить часть денег немного раньше – «аванс наследства». В этот момент у Суинберна впервые возникает мысль о возможности убить дядю, не будучи разоблаченным. Его безответная любовь к молодой женщине по имени Уна Меллор помогает ему принять быстрое решение. «Это звучит ужасно», – говорит она ему, – но я сразу скажу, что ни при каких обстоятельствах не выйду замуж за бедного человека. Это не только меркантильность и эгоизм. Я не буду счастлива без привычного мне уровня жизни, и мой муж тоже. Брак, полный нужды и лишений, принесет страдания обоим. Это было бы глупо, и я не собираюсь этого делать. После долгих раздумий Суинберн решает отравить дядю цианидом калия. Он принимает все возможные меры предосторожности при покупке яда, затем изготавливает таблетку, похожую на одно из лекарств Кроутера от расстройства пищеварения. Он покупает бутылку этих таблеток, прячет отравленную таблетку внутрь и, во время ужина у дяди, опрокидывает бокал вина, что дает ему возможность незаметно поменять бутылки. Чарльз Суинберн особенно гордится своим безупречным алиби. На следующее утро он бронирует трехнедельный круиз по Средиземному морю. Когда ему сообщают о смерти дяди, он находится в Неаполе, Италия. К его удивлению, дядя принял таблетку не дома, а во время своего первого (и последнего) полета рейсом «12:30 из Кройдона». Семья была встревожена сообщением о несчастном случае, произошедшем с Элси во Франции, и Кроутер настоял на том, чтобы поехать вместе с отцом Элси и их дочерью. По прибытии во Францию его обнаружили мертвым. Проводится расследование, но Суинберн чувствует себя в полной безопасности, поскольку никто не подозревает его причастности к делу. Однако спустя некоторое время к нему обращается Уэзеруп, дворецкий Кроутера, который утверждает, что видел, как он менял бутылки, и начинает шантажировать его. Суинберн снова не видит другого выхода, кроме как прибегнуть к «отчаянному средству» и убить дворецкого. На этот раз он не может действовать так осторожно, как при планировании смерти дяди. Он жестоко убивает Уэзерупа куском свинцовой трубы и выбрасывает тело в ближайшее озеро. Вскоре после этого его арестовывают, судят и приговаривают к повешению. Одной из интересных особенностей романа является возможность заглянуть в сознание преступника. Особенно стоит отметить рационализацию Суинберна, основанную на утилитарных аргументах:
but I may as well tell you at once that under no circumstances would I marry a poor man. This is not entirely mercenary and selfish. I shouldn't be happy without the things I am accustomed to and my husband wouldn't be happy either. To marry where there would be shortage and privation would mean misery for both of us. It would be simply foolish and I'm not going to do it. [Chapter IV]
After thinking the matter over again and again, Swinburn resolves to poison his uncle with potassium cyanide. He takes all kinds of precautions when he buys the poison. Then he makes a pill that looks like one of Crowther's anti indigestion tablets. He buys a bottle of those pills, buries the poisoned pill in that bottle, and, over dinner at his uncle's, spills a glass of wine which gives him the opportunity to exchange bottles without anyone noticing. Charles Swinburn is particularly proud of his perfect alibi. On the following morning he books a three week cruise of the Mediterranean. When he is informed of his uncle's death, he is in Naples, Italy. To his surprise, his uncle took the pill not at home but on his first (and last) flight, the 12.30 from Croydon: The family had been alarmed by a report stating that Elsie had had an accident in France, and Crowther had insisted on coming with Elsie's father and their daughter. On arrival in France he had been found dead. An inquest is held, but Swinburn feels quite safe when no one seems to implicate him in the case. However, some time later he is approached by Weatherup, Crowther's butler, who claims he has seen him exchange the bottles, and who starts blackmailing him. Again, Swinburn sees no other solution than to "take that desperate remedy" and kill the butler. This time he cannot be as subtle as when planning his uncle's death. He brutally slays Weatherup with a piece of lead pipe and dumps his body in a nearby lake. Soon afterwards he is arrested, tried, and hanged. One of the interesting aspects of the novel is the insight the reader gains into the workings of a criminal mind. In particular, Swinburn's rationalization along utilitarian argumentative patterns must be mentioned in this context:
Then he told himself that all this morality business was only an old wives' tale. He, Charles, wasn't tied up by these out of date considerations! What was politic was right. What was the greatest good of the greatest number? Why, that Andrew should die. What about all the men that were going to be thrown out of employment? What about the clerks? What about poor old Gairns? What about Gairns's invalid wife? Andrew Crowther's useless life could count for nothing against such a weight of human suffering. [Chapter VII]
Crofts's Detective Inspector Joseph French, who appears in several of his novels, keeps in the background during the action of The 12.30 from Croydon. He does solve the case, and explains how he did it in the final chapters of the novel, but the emphasis of the book is on the thoughts and deeds of the criminal.
Тогда он убедил себя, что вся эта мораль – лишь бабьи сказки. Он, Чарльз, не связан этими устаревшими соображениями! Благоразумное – правильно. Какое наибольшее благо для наибольшего числа людей? Смерть Эндрю. А как насчет всех тех людей, которых выбросят на улицу? А как насчет клерков? А как насчет бедного старого Гэрнса? А как насчет больной жены Гэрнса? Бесполезная жизнь Эндрю Кроутера не стоит и ломаного гроша по сравнению с таким количеством человеческих страданий.
but I may as well tell you at once that under no circumstances would I marry a poor man. This is not entirely mercenary and selfish. I shouldn't be happy without the things I am accustomed to and my husband wouldn't be happy either. To marry where there would be shortage and privation would mean misery for both of us. It would be simply foolish and I'm not going to do it. [Chapter IV]
After thinking the matter over again and again, Swinburn resolves to poison his uncle with potassium cyanide. He takes all kinds of precautions when he buys the poison. Then he makes a pill that looks like one of Crowther's anti indigestion tablets. He buys a bottle of those pills, buries the poisoned pill in that bottle, and, over dinner at his uncle's, spills a glass of wine which gives him the opportunity to exchange bottles without anyone noticing. Charles Swinburn is particularly proud of his perfect alibi. On the following morning he books a three week cruise of the Mediterranean. When he is informed of his uncle's death, he is in Naples, Italy. To his surprise, his uncle took the pill not at home but on his first (and last) flight, the 12.30 from Croydon: The family had been alarmed by a report stating that Elsie had had an accident in France, and Crowther had insisted on coming with Elsie's father and their daughter. On arrival in France he had been found dead. An inquest is held, but Swinburn feels quite safe when no one seems to implicate him in the case. However, some time later he is approached by Weatherup, Crowther's butler, who claims he has seen him exchange the bottles, and who starts blackmailing him. Again, Swinburn sees no other solution than to "take that desperate remedy" and kill the butler. This time he cannot be as subtle as when planning his uncle's death. He brutally slays Weatherup with a piece of lead pipe and dumps his body in a nearby lake. Soon afterwards he is arrested, tried, and hanged. One of the interesting aspects of the novel is the insight the reader gains into the workings of a criminal mind. In particular, Swinburn's rationalization along utilitarian argumentative patterns must be mentioned in this context:
Then he told himself that all this morality business was only an old wives' tale. He, Charles, wasn't tied up by these out of date considerations! What was politic was right. What was the greatest good of the greatest number? Why, that Andrew should die. What about all the men that were going to be thrown out of employment? What about the clerks? What about poor old Gairns? What about Gairns's invalid wife? Andrew Crowther's useless life could count for nothing against such a weight of human suffering. [Chapter VII]
Crofts's Detective Inspector Joseph French, who appears in several of his novels, keeps in the background during the action of The 12.30 from Croydon. He does solve the case, and explains how he did it in the final chapters of the novel, but the emphasis of the book is on the thoughts and deeds of the criminal.
Детектив-инспектор Джозеф Френч, появляющийся в нескольких романах Крофтса, остается в тени на протяжении всего действия «12:30 из Кройдона». Он раскрывает дело и объясняет, как ему это удалось, в заключительных главах романа, но основное внимание в книге уделяется мыслям и поступкам преступника.
but I may as well tell you at once that under no circumstances would I marry a poor man. This is not entirely mercenary and selfish. I shouldn't be happy without the things I am accustomed to and my husband wouldn't be happy either. To marry where there would be shortage and privation would mean misery for both of us. It would be simply foolish and I'm not going to do it. [Chapter IV]
After thinking the matter over again and again, Swinburn resolves to poison his uncle with potassium cyanide. He takes all kinds of precautions when he buys the poison. Then he makes a pill that looks like one of Crowther's anti indigestion tablets. He buys a bottle of those pills, buries the poisoned pill in that bottle, and, over dinner at his uncle's, spills a glass of wine which gives him the opportunity to exchange bottles without anyone noticing. Charles Swinburn is particularly proud of his perfect alibi. On the following morning he books a three week cruise of the Mediterranean. When he is informed of his uncle's death, he is in Naples, Italy. To his surprise, his uncle took the pill not at home but on his first (and last) flight, the 12.30 from Croydon: The family had been alarmed by a report stating that Elsie had had an accident in France, and Crowther had insisted on coming with Elsie's father and their daughter. On arrival in France he had been found dead. An inquest is held, but Swinburn feels quite safe when no one seems to implicate him in the case. However, some time later he is approached by Weatherup, Crowther's butler, who claims he has seen him exchange the bottles, and who starts blackmailing him. Again, Swinburn sees no other solution than to "take that desperate remedy" and kill the butler. This time he cannot be as subtle as when planning his uncle's death. He brutally slays Weatherup with a piece of lead pipe and dumps his body in a nearby lake. Soon afterwards he is arrested, tried, and hanged. One of the interesting aspects of the novel is the insight the reader gains into the workings of a criminal mind. In particular, Swinburn's rationalization along utilitarian argumentative patterns must be mentioned in this context:
Then he told himself that all this morality business was only an old wives' tale. He, Charles, wasn't tied up by these out of date considerations! What was politic was right. What was the greatest good of the greatest number? Why, that Andrew should die. What about all the men that were going to be thrown out of employment? What about the clerks? What about poor old Gairns? What about Gairns's invalid wife? Andrew Crowther's useless life could count for nothing against such a weight of human suffering. [Chapter VII]
Crofts's Detective Inspector Joseph French, who appears in several of his novels, keeps in the background during the action of The 12.30 from Croydon. He does solve the case, and explains how he did it in the final chapters of the novel, but the emphasis of the book is on the thoughts and deeds of the criminal.